Quote of the Day

"We can't let intolerance and ignorance take another kid's life."--Ellen, in a message she recorded yesterday. Video below, transcript below the fold.

I am devastated over the death of eighteen year old Tyler Clementi. If you don't know, Tyler was a bright student at Rutgers University whose life was senselessly cut short. HE was outed as being gay on the internet and he killed himself. Something must be done.

This month alone there have been a shocking number of news stories about teens who have been teased and bullied and committed suicide--like thirteen year old Seth Walsh of Tehachapi,, California, thirteen year old Asher Brown in Cypress, Texas, and fifteen year old Billy Lucas in Greensburg, Indiana. This needs to be a wake-up call to everyone that teenage bullying and teasing is an epidemic in this country and the death rate is climbing.

One life lost in this senseless way is tragedy; four lives lost is a crisis. And these are just the stories we hear about. How many other teens are lost? How many are suffering in silence? Being a teenager is hard enough figuring out who you are without someone attacking you.

My heart is breaking for their families, for their friends, for our society that continues to let this happen. These kids needed us...and we have an obligation to change this. There are messages everywhere that validate this kind of bullying and taunting and we have to make it stop.

We can't let intolerance and ignorance take another kid's life.

And I want anyone out there who feels different and alone out there to know that I know how you feel. And there is help out there and you can find support in your community. If you need someone to talk to or you want to get involved, there are some really great organizations listed on our website. This will get easier, people's minds will change. And you should...you should be alive to see it.